The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-02-12

he possessed save eloquence, and he
was more feared in debate than any
living Congressman. He was fighting
for great stake, for then, as now, he
hoped that something might turn up
and make him President, and heI
hoped to cheat Grant, whom he hated,
and Conkling and Morton, both OF
whom he considered interiors, out OF
the carpet-bag votes in the convention.
He was sort OF half devil, half
CagIiostro, who knew more of the sea
crets of public men-especialIy secrets
that public men did not wish mace
public-than any one else in the coun.
try. A brave thief he admired, but a
cowardly and cringing thief was bis
special aversion. He knew every one
of them. For eight years he had been
a member of Congress, and after Thad-
deus Stevens became decrepit Butter
was the most conspicuous member of
either house. He had been the actnal
leader of the impeachment of the
President OF the United States, and !
had gained more distinction in that
greatest State trial of the New World |
than any one connected with it-cuf- |
prit, judges, accusers or advocates-and |
if he would write book containing |
all he knows about men, things and
events it would be the most Interesting
volume in American literature and the
most volcanic volume in all literature.
Indeed, he would be the Attala Of let
tiers aud the Tamerlane of regulations.
Blaine, in the Speakers chair, was a
partisan. Indeed, it would not be pos
sibIe to place him in public position
in which he would not show his par
tisanship, but be knew that the Force
Bill would defeat him for the nonina-
ton in 1876, and he determined to OPP
pose it. His hostility was apparent,
and Butler resented it. After the Chair
had overruled several motions of old
Ben, all of which looked to forcing
vote by straining the rules, Butler, with
a staggering air of effrontery and the
leer of an incarnate demon, remarked:
"Well, Mr.. Speaker, would it be In
order at this time for me to move the
Impeachment OF special committee to
Investigate the accounts of the Fort
Smith and Little Rock Railroad Cons
psny? Ithink a thorough scrutiny OF
its affairs would afford some rich de-
velopments." It was the first shot in
Ia personal warfare that is not yet con-
GUIDED, aud which has been waged
with most virulent animosity for
twelve years. The effect of Buffers
shaft was electrical. The Speaker turned
ashe3, became Disconnected, and for
once he quailed before attack. Butler
glared at him moment and enjoyed
with keen relish the agony he in
hic,ed. Then he resumed his labors,
and did not cease them until the close
| If tho SCSQjNn XNhpn rnfirnH frnp
the contest defeated by the solid pha-
lanx of Democrats, supported AS they
were by the rulings OF the Chair,
During the session Butler made q
dozen speeches in utilization of the
finally he brought John Young Brown
to his feet, who eXcOriated him in the
following vigorous sentences
"The accusation against the Southern
people has come from one who is out
lawed in his own homo from respecia-
BILE society; whose name is Synonymous
with falsehood F; who is the champion,
and has been on all occasions, Of fraud !;
who is the apoiogist of thieves; who
ssuch prodigy of vice and meanness
that TO describe him would sicken i'm
agina'ion and exhaust invective. =
If wished TO characterize all that
was pusillanimous in war, inbuman in
peace, forbidden in morals, and infa-
nous in politics, l should call it sBut-
Ierism.'"
Hale, of New York, at once de-
manded that the words be taken down,
and all was confusion. Dawes, of Mas.
sachusetts, made q speech, in which he
referred to the time when Brown had
been elected to Congress before he had
arrived ut his constitutional majority,
and in which he paid Brown Il high
aud deserved compliment, and, while
he opposed expulsion, which he thought
would make Brown Il hero at home
and keep HIM in Congress an indefinite
period, he advocated censure. After
much debate, Brown was Censurod,
when Butler made short speech, in
which he said;
81 call upon every gentleman here
who has served with mo since l have
been in Congress, whether in all that
time l have ever commenced per-
souai attack upon any man in this
House; whether I have ever stepped
out of my way TO do any uukiud thing
or say any unkind words of single
gentleman of the House until l was
first attacked. Be he whom he may,
speak whom l have offended. Let
this thing be settled once for all, for
have endeavored with studied courtesy
neverto attack; and have endeavored
one other thing, sir, when l was at